Ah the beginning of summer… a time to finally get outside, only to realize the havoc winter hibernation has wrought on your previously shapely body!
If you’re like many, this is a time when you’ve finally decided to drag yourself off the couch and get back into shape with some running. Or maybe you’ve been running for a while and have decided to kick up your training intensity for the big race (you overachiever, you). You’ve run hard, but your shins start burning somethin’ fierce, stopping you in your tracks.
Why do your legs decide to rebel just as you’re starting something so good for them? What are those blasted shin splints and more importantly, HOW can you get rid of them and get back to running (not to mention the rest of life) ASAP???
We’ve all been there before – maybe it was after a long weekend of lots of yard work. Maybe it was after sitting for a long time on a car ride or a long day at the office. Perhaps you even experienced it bending over to pick up the toothbrush that you dropped (I kid you not – I’ve seen it before!). Back pain can hit us anytime and anywhere. It can range from “I’ll take a couple of Ibuprofen pills” and be fine to “not getting out of bed for three days” and hobbling your way into the doctor’s office or emergency room. Not all back pain is created equally. Determining the exact cause of your back pain is crucial to receiving the best care and promoting the quickest recovery. Today one of our doctors of physical therapy, Cameron Garber, is discussing 5 of the most common types of low back pain and sharing some advice that can potentially help you to feel better.
As a physical therapist I have a lot of opportunities to talk to patients each day. We obviously talk a lot about things such as their accident or injury and what they can do to maximize their outcome following a back injury or knee surgery; but it’s also a unique opportunity to discuss family, careers, life, and wellness. At the Fit Stop we are concerned about your overall wellness as well as your current injury. Over the years I have asked hundreds of individuals what they do to stay in shape and how they manage to stay healthy. Today on the Fit Stop Blog I wanted to share with you a few of my findings – specifically what you can do to eat healthier and enjoy many years of healthy, active living. Read more below…
“I hurt my ______ the other day. What should I do about it?”
As a physical therapist this is a question that I get A LOT. Even more since becoming a physical therapist/blogger! What you do in the first 48-72 hours after an injury can actually have a dramatic impact on the course of your healing! As swelling and inflammation settle in it’s important that you manage these responses appropriately to decrease pain, maximize healing, and ultimately get you back to your activity faster. Today I’m talking about 4 crucial steps you need to take immediately after an injury to feel better faster and get back to health sooner…
Clicking, popping, catching, grinding… all are symptoms we hear regularly about the jaw. But what is this jaw pain you’re experiencing and how can physical therapy help? Today we have Tyler Bluth, PT, MPT, writing for us; he is going to explain tempero-mandibular joint (TMJ) pain and why physical therapy might be your best bet at helping it to feel better.
There are a lot of myths and misconceptions out there in the healthcare world. This is especially true of the physical therapy profession. You’ve probably heard anything from “physical therapists just treat knee injuries and sprained ankles” to “physical therapy hurts so bad!” With so many different stories from so many different sources it’s hard to know what’s true and what’s not. Luckily for us, Cameron Garber (PT, DPT) is here today to help us debunk some of these fallacies. Below are five o the most-common myths about physical therapy and the answer to what you can really expect instead!
One of the questions we get asked a lot in the clinic is “so – are you a doctor?” or “what do I call you?” There have been some fairly recent changes to the curriculum physical therapists have to go through in grad school to earn their title; Toby Bluth (PT, DPT) is going to explain it to us today and hopefully clear up any of the confusion that may be out there. Keep reading to learn more!
What do you do when your back is killing you but you don’t want to kill your budget? With the rising cost of copays, tests, and medical imaging, people often ask us “what is to be done? What’s the best treatment I can get for my back pain without breaking the bank, also?” Recent research done at the University of Utah shows that physical therapy may be the answer for finding cost effective treatment.
To me there’s nothing more therapeutic than waking up before anyone else in the house, lacing up my running shoes, popping in my earphones, and taking off running. It’s my “me time”. It’s my time to separate myself from distractions and be alone with my thoughts. Of course, the benefits of running certainly don’t stop there! The last time I was out on a run I got to thinking about all the health benefits associated with running (pay attention to that word “health”… not just physical. Emotional, mental, behavioral, psychological, etc are included!). When I got home I compiled my list of reasons why I feel like everyone should run, and wanted to share them with you! From losing weight and disease prevention to joint health and “me” time – here are my top 10 reasons why you should be running…
Do you need a physician referral to see a physical Therapist? The answer may surprise you!
As a physical therapist (PT) working in a health club setting, I frequently have gym members stopping by with questions regarding their most recent ache or pain. Often times we decide that physical therapy would help speed up the healing process and the person desires to set up an initial evaluation. It is at that point the question almost always comes up, “do I need to go get a doctor’s referral to start physical therapy?”
